Early experience with fluoxetine

A new antidepressant Fluoxetine, a serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, was tried on 26 resistant depressed patients. There were four drop out due to severe side effects. Improvement was noticeable soon after the first week and was maximum within 3 weeks of medication in 14 (63.6%) patients while in 8 (36.4%) patients it was as late as 6-12 weeks. The decline in improvement after three weeks in 7(31.8%) patients, needs attention in future studies. Bradycardia in 2 patients above the age of sixty indicate that the drug should be used with caution in elderly. GIT disturbance, insomnia, anorexia, restlessness and lethargy were common side effects. A well planned double blind study is recommended before its place is assigned in our patient population.